Means for controlling the stroke of friction on rods in flat knitting machines



,Apnl 9, 1957 F. FLAMIG ETAL 2,787,898

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE STROKE 0F FRICTION ON RODS IN FLAT KNITTINGMACHINES Filed May 20, 1955 INVENTORS FRITZ FLAMIG AND WERNER KOBLITZ BYflak/ y,

ATTORNEYS 2,787,898 Ice Patented p 1957 2,787,898 MEANS FOR CONTROLLINGTHE STROKE OF FRICTION N RODS IN FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Fritz Fliimigand Werner Koblitz, Ingolstadt, Germany,

assiguors to Schubert & Salzer Maschinenfabrik AktiengesellschaftIngolstadt, Ingolstadt (Danube), Germany Application May 20, 1955,Serial No. 509,922 Claims priority, application Germany June 16, 1954 7Claims. (Cl. 66-126) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in controlling the stroke of friction rods in flat knittingmachines. The invention more particularly relates to a control mechanismfor controlling the stroke of friction rods in flat or full-fashionhosiery knitting machines during slow heel operation in connection withwhich the driving mechanism for the friction rods is coupled with thecoulier mechanism which drives the slur bar.

In flat knitting machines the rotary motion of the driving motor isconverted to a uniform reciprocal mo tion for driving the friction rodsand the slur bar by means of the known coulier mechanism. This motion isknown as the coulier motion. The friction rod carries the friction boxwith the thread guide for feeding the yarn to the needles, the width oftravel of which is controlled by adjustable stops.

In the conventionally known arrangements for slow heel operation, thefriction rod was actuated by a lever which was connected with thecoulier mechanism by means of a connecting rod. The pivot point of thelever and the point of attachment with the connecting rod was suitablychosen with respect to the desired reduction ofspeed. In order to beable to vary the speed of the friction rod, the hole for connecting theconnecting rod to the lever for slow heel operation was developed in theform of an elongated hole, allowing adjustment, or some other connectingmechanism was provided to allow this adjustment. The adjustment,however, had to be effected by hand and was time-consuming andcumbersome.

In another known device, a rack and gearing were provided, which wereconnected with the slur bar and actuated by it. In this device it waspossible to reduce the speed of the friction rods which operated inrapid operation with the speed of the slur bar. The speed reduction,however, could only be effected to one of two reduced speeds, whichcorresponded to the approximate stocking width at the time. This device,however, was very limited in its range of action, since with the twospeed steps it was possible to work with the slower movement of thefriction rods only in the smallest and largeststocking widths of, forexample, 8 and 13". In the intermediate range from, for example, 8 to13", no change of speed of the friction rods was possible, so that thepressure on the stops provided to limit the motion of the friction rodwas increased in a highly undesirable manner.

One object of this invention is a device of reducing the speed of thefriction rods in a flat knitting machine without the above-mentioneddisadvantages. This, and still further objects will become apparent fromthe following description, read in conjunction with the drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of a device in accordance withthe invention shown in one operating position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1 shown in anotheroperating position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partially in section of the device shown inFig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of a different embodiment of thedevice in accordance with the invention.

The invention is applicable to a fiat knitting machine having areciprocating member for driving the friction rod in slow heeloperation, such as a drive bar which is imparted the coulier motion, i.e., a coulier bar; the reciprocating member, such as the bar, and thefriction rod being movable along substantially parallel spacedapartaxes.

In accordance with the invention, a pivotal lever is used to transmitthe reciprocatingmotion from the reciprocating bar to the friction rodand the pivot point of attachment of the lever to the bar and to themember connected to the friction rod is changed along with the positionof the levers fulcrum point on the machine frame.

The lever may be pivotally connected at one end to its fulcrum, i. e., apivot point connected to the machine frame, and at the other end to thefriction rod, as, for example, through the driving slide for thefriction rod. The intermediate portion of the rod is connected to thereciprocating bar by a pivotal connection. The pivotal connectionbetween the lever and one of the reciprocating bar and friction rod canbe axially slidable along the lever, and the pivotal connection betweenthe other of the reciprocating bar and friction rod being slidableaxially with the lever. The fulcrum point and the pivot points of thelever may be changed by providing means for adjusting the fulcrum, i.e., the pivot point by moving the same substantially normal to the axesof movement of the friction rod and the reciprocating bar. These lattermeans may, for example, consist of a threaded spindle rotatably securedto the knitting machine frame and an internally threaded sleeve memberin threaded engagement to the spindle to which the pivot, i e., thefulcrum of the lever is attached. i i

The movement of the fixed pivot point, as, for example, by rotating thethreaded spindle, may be effected with the conventionally known controldevices, as, for example, by means of the control of the stops for the1firIiction box which control the width of the goods being The device inaccordance with the invention makes itpossible to adaptthe speed of thefriction rods within the normal range of width of, for example, 8 to13', corresponding to the variable width'of the reinforcement part ofthe stocking being knit. The invention will be described in furtherdetail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawing.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing, 2 is areciprocating drive bar, i. e., the coulier bar for slow heel operationwhich is driven in the conventional manner by means of the connectingrod 1, which is linked to a coulier lever. The bar 2 slides between theguide bearings 2. The reciprocating motion of the bar 2 as the same isdriven by the connecting rod 1 and slides back and forth between theguide bearings 2' is transmitted to the lever 4 by means of the pin 3and block 3. The

pin 3 and block 3 form a pivot joint andthe block 3' may; slide axiallyalong the lever 4 in the tracks formed by the longitudinal ribs 4'.The-lever 4 is pivotally mounted at its lower end for pivoting about apivot joint formed by the pin 5. The pin 5 is supported bythe lugs 6'rigidly connected to the internally threaded sleeves 6. The internallythreaded sleeves 6 surround and'are in threaded engagement with thethreaded spindles 7, 7, which are rotatably supported in a bracket 16,which is fastened to the knitting machine frame 15.

Upon the synchronous rotation of the spindles 7, 7 the sleeves 6,together with their lugs 6, are simultaneously displaced axially alongthe length of the spindles 7, 7' so greases that the pivot point of thelever 4 at is displaced in a direction substantially normal to the axisof motion of the bar 2.

At the opposite end of the lever 4 another pivot joint consisting of thepin 8 .and block 8' is positioned. The block 8 slides in the track guide9 on the driving slide 9 for the friction rod 14 whichcarries thefriction box 11.

Upon the rotation of the spindle 7, so that the sleeves 6 are screwed totheir upper end, the arm between the points Sand 3 of the lever 4 isshortened, as shown in Fig. 2, while the lever arm between the points 3to 3 is correspondingly lengthened. With the frequency and amplitude ofthe reciprocating drive .baror coulier bar 2 remaining constant, as thelength of the lever arm '8--3 increases and the lever arm 3-5 decreasesfrom the position shown in. Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, thearc of travel described by the point 8.is correspondingly increasedalong with the path of :travel of its connected parts 8', 9, 9, and 14.Thus, .as the spindles 7, 7' are rotated to move the sleeves 6 from theposition shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig 2, the path oftravel of the friction rod 14 is correspondingly increased. Conversely,as the threaded splindles 7, 7' are rotated in the opposite directionand .the sleeves 6 are displaced in the direction along the direction ofthe spindles 7, 7 from Fig. 2 to Fig. '1, the path of travel ofthefriction rod 14 is. correspondingly reduced.

A suitable rotation of the spindles 7 is possible to displace and securethe pivot point 5 of the lever 4 at any desired point within the twolimit positions as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, whereby thefriction rod may always be displaced with a speed which corresponds tothe reduced or increased width of the material being knit at thereinforcement portions of the-stocking.

In the embodiment as shown in Fig. 4, the threaded spindlesforregulating the point of the pivot point 5 are combined into a singlespindle mounted parallel to the axes of motion of the bar 2 and frictionrod 14. The spindle is divided into two oppositely threaded portions 27and 27', respectively.

The pin 5 of the pivotpoint of the lever 4 is connected to the sleeves26, which correspond to the sleeves 6 in Figs. 1-3 by means of thelevers -24, each of which is pivotally connected to the lever 4 at5 andthe spindles 26. By rotating the spindle, the sleeves26 are eitherscrewed towards each other or away from eachother, depending upon thedirection of rotation, thus displacing the pivot point 5 closer orfurther awayfrom the bar 2 along the axis of motion substantially normalto the axis of motion of the bar 2.

The embodiments as shown may, of course, have various mechanicalmodifications. Thus, for exarnple, instead of having the spindles 7 and7as shown in Figs. 1-3, as threaded spindles, one of the spindles may bein the form of a smooth guiderod'with the sleeve 6 which surrounds it inthe form of aslnooth guide sleeve instead of being internally threaded.In place of the blocks 3', 8', which move in the tracks, guide slots maybe provided with pins 3 and 8 extending therethrough as guide pins.

The control of the spindle7, 7' or 27, 27, and thus of the position ofthe sleeves 6 or 26 therealong may be effected automatically in a mannerknown per se. Thus, for example, the rotation of the spindles, and thusthe setting of thepivot point -5 may .beetfected automatically by theyarn carrier narrowing device, as, "for example, the device which setsthe position of the stops for the friction box. In this manner, thepreviously required cumbersome and time-consuming adjustment of theblock and the driving slide is avoided and a finelygraduated change ofspeed of the friction rod in the intermediate range of the width ofgoods is made possible while avoiding any violent striking of thefriction rod in its limit position.

While theinvention has been described-in detail with reference to thespecific embodiments shown, various changes and modifications willbecome apparent to the artisan which fall within the spirit of theinvention and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a flat knitting machine having a reciprocating member for drivingthe friction rod in slow heel operation, the reciprocrating member andthe friction rod being movable along substantially parallei spaced-apartaxes, the improvement for controlling the stroke of the friction rod,which comprises a lever extending substantially normal to said axespivotally connected at one end portion to a pivot, at the other endportion to the fric tion rod, and at the intermediate portion to saidreciprocating member, the pivotal connection between said lever and oneof said reciprocating members and friction rod being slidable axiallyalong said lever, the pivotal conncction between the other of saidreciprocating members and friction rod being slidable axially with saidlever, and means for adjustably moving said pivot substantially normalto the axes of motion of said friction rod and reciprocating member.

2. In a fiat knitting machine having a reciprocating bar for driving thefriction rod in slow wheel operation, the barand friction rod beingmovable alongsubstantially parallel, spaced-apart axes, the improvementfor controlling the stroke of the friction rod, which comprises at leastone threaded spindle rotatably secured to the knitting machine frame, aninternally threaded slcevc member surrounding said spindle in threadedengagement therewith, a first pivot joint, means connecting said firstpivot joint to said sleeve for moving said first pivot joint along anaxis substantially normal to the axes of movement of said bar andfriction rod upon movement of the said sleeve member along said threadedspindle, a lever pivotally connected at one end portion to said firstpivot joint, a second pivot joint connected to the other endportion ofsaid lever, slide joint means connecting said second pivot joint to saidfriction rod for sliding movement in a direction substantially normal tothe axis of motion of said friction rod, a third pivot joint connectedto said bar and in sliding engagement with said lever'along theintermediate portion thereof.

3. Improvement according to claim 2, in which said threaded spindle ispositioned with its axis substantially normal to the axes of motion ofsaid bar and friction rod, and in which said first pivot joint isrigidly connected to said sleeve member.

4. Improvement according to claim 3, including a second substantiallyparallel spindle positioned on the opposite side of said first pivotjoint, and a second sleeve member surrounding'said second spindle andrigidly connected to said first-pivot joint.

5. Improvement according to claim 4, in which said second spindle is athreaded spindle, and in which said second sleeve member is aninternally threaded sleeve member in threaded engagement therewith.

6. Improvement according to claim 4, in which said second spindle andsaid second sleeve member define smooth bearing surfaces in slidingcontact with each other.

7. Improvement according to claim 2, in which said threaded spindle ispositioned with its axis substantially parallel to theaxes of motion ofsaid bar and friction rod, and in which said threaded spindle/defines asecond oppositely threaded portion along its length, a second internallythreaded sleeve surrounding said spindle in threaded engagement withsaid second threaded portion, and in-which said means connecting saidfirst pivot joint to said sleeve comprises a pair of levers pivotallyconnected to said sleeves and said pivot joint.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,705,879 Scheller Apr. 12, 1955 & ta

